The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is probing suspected Pakistan and Australia links to a drone-based arms drop in Amritsar in June this year, which officials believe was intended to supply weapons for subversive activities, people familiar with the matter said on Saturday.
Investigators suspect a network involving Pakistan’s ISI, gangsters and pro-Khalistan elements, and are verifying the intended destination of the weapons. A local receiver, Rohan Khosla, in his early 20s, was arrested by the Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police on June 18 while travelling on NH-354 after collecting a consignment of 26 weapons near the border, officials said. The cache included an AK-47, 14 9mm pistols, 11 .30-bore pistols, 368 live cartridges, 48 magazines and an American bulletproof vest, they added.
After taking over the probe from Punjab Police, the NIA began examining the role of an Australia-based associate of Khosla, who allegedly directed him to collect the consignment after sharing the drop location through social media applications, they said.
